AHMEDABAD: Bastee dwellers near the Sabarmati railway colony are up in arms against the
railway administration for demolishing shanties of some Adivasis which encroached on
official land.

About 1000-odd Adivasis, who are left homeless, have united under the banner of Bandhkam
Mazdoor Sangathan and threatened to resort to agitation if their demand for construction
of homes under 'Renbasera' scheme of the state government are not met forthwith.

The organisation has claimed that railway officials as well as the railway protection
force had been collecting bribes for letting the Adivasis occupy the railway land.
"Despite paying the 'unofficial charges' to allow us occupy this piece of land beside the
Sabarmati railway tracks, we were evicted soon after the railway authorities received a
letter to remove encroachment from their higher ups," they alleged.

Following demolition of the shanties, a delegation led by the Sangathan secretary, Varsha
Patel, met the inspector of works (western railways, Ahmedabad). Telegrams have also been
shot to the divisional manager, divisional engineer (railways) and the local MP Rajubhai
Parmar requesting an immediate inquiry into this issue. The agitationists have also said
that they should not be evicted from the present site of their homes and that they be
given houses under the 'Renbasera' scheme.

Source:http://203.199.93.7/articleshow.asp?art_id=1325204232
Referred by:Mukundan CM
Published on: July 19, 2001
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